Rainfall and Flow Relationship

Overview

This chart visualizes the relationship between rainfall intensity and river flow over time using a dual-axis configuration. The inverted rainfall axis (top) and flow axis (bottom) create an intuitive visualization where rainfall appears to "fall" onto the flow response below.

When to use

• Analyze rainfall-runoff relationships
• Study hydrological responses to precipitation events
• Flood forecasting and analysis
• Water resource management
• Environmental impact assessments

Not ideal

• When exact correlation values are needed (use statistical analysis)
• Comparing more than two related variables
• Real-time monitoring without historical context

Key variations

• Inverted secondary axis for intuitive rainfall display
• Area fill to emphasize magnitude of both variables
• Mark areas to highlight specific event periods
• Interactive data zoom for detailed time period analysis
• Adjustable time scales (hourly, daily, weekly)

Use cases

• Hydrological modeling and validation
• Flood event analysis and prediction
• Watershed management
• Dam and reservoir operations
• Climate change impact studies

Data (CSV)

time,value,series
2009/6/12 2:00,0.97,Flow
2009/6/12 2:00,0,Rainfall
2009/6/12 8:00,0.94,Flow
2009/6/12 8:00,0,Rainfall
2009/6/12 14:00,0.94,Flow
2009/6/12 14:00,0,Rainfall
2009/6/12 20:00,0.94,Flow
2009/6/12 20:00,0,Rainfall
2009/6/13 2:00,0.94,Flow
2009/6/13 2:00,0,Rainfall
2009/6/13 8:00,0.94,Flow
2009/6/13 8:00,0,Rainfall
2009/6/13 14:00,0.94,Flow
2009/6/13 14:00,0,Rainfall
2009/6/13 20:00,0.94,Flow
2009/6/13 20:00,0,Rainfall
2009/6/14 2:00,0.94,Flow
2009/6/14 2:00,0,Rainfall
2009/6/14 8:00,0.94,Flow
2009/6/14 8:00,0,Rainfall
2009/6/14 14:00,0.94,Flow
2009/6/14 14:00,0,Rainfall
2009/6/14 20:00,0.94,Flow
2009/6/14 20:00,0,Rainfall
2009/6/15 2:00,0.94,Flow
2009/6/15 2:00,0,Rainfall
2009/6/15 8:00,0.94,Flow
2009/6/15 8:00,0,Rainfall
2009/6/15 14:00,0.94,Flow
2009/6/15 14:00,0,Rainfall
2009/6/15 20:00,0.94,Flow
2009/6/15 20:00,0,Rainfall
2009/6/16 2:00,0.94,Flow
2009/6/16 2:00,0,Rainfall
2009/6/16 8:00,0.94,Flow
2009/6/16 8:00,0,Rainfall
2009/6/16 14:00,0.94,Flow
2009/6/16 14:00,0,Rainfall
2009/6/16 20:00,0.94,Flow
2009/6/16 20:00,0,Rainfall
2009/6/17 2:00,0.94,Flow
2009/6/17 2:00,0,Rainfall
2009/6/17 8:00,0.87,Flow
2009/6/17 8:00,0.017,Rainfall
2009/6/17 14:00,0.86,Flow
2009/6/17 14:00,0.03,Rainfall
2009/6/17 20:00,0.86,Flow
2009/6/17 20:00,0.045,Rainfall
2009/6/18 2:00,0.86,Flow
2009/6/18 2:00,0.042,Rainfall
2009/6/18 8:00,0.93,Flow
2009/6/18 8:00,0.096,Rainfall
2009/6/18 14:00,1.17,Flow
2009/6/18 14:00,0.14,Rainfall
2009/6/18 20:00,1.43,Flow
2009/6/18 20:00,0.042,Rainfall
2009/6/19 2:00,1.24,Flow
2009/6/19 2:00,0.054,Rainfall
2009/6/19 8:00,1.14,Flow
2009/6/19 8:00,0.126,Rainfall
2009/6/19 14:00,1.1,Flow
2009/6/19 14:00,0.349,Rainfall
2009/6/19 20:00,1.09,Flow
2009/6/19 20:00,0.117,Rainfall
2009/6/20 2:00,1.02,Flow
2009/6/20 2:00,0,Rainfall
2009/6/20 8:00,0.94,Flow
2009/6/20 8:00,0,Rainfall
2009/6/20 14:00,0.94,Flow
2009/6/20 14:00,0,Rainfall
2009/6/20 20:00,0.94,Flow
2009/6/20 20:00,0,Rainfall
2009/6/21 2:00,0.93,Flow
2009/6/21 2:00,0,Rainfall
2009/6/21 8:00,0.86,Flow
2009/6/21 8:00,0,Rainfall
2009/6/21 14:00,0.86,Flow
2009/6/21 14:00,0,Rainfall
2009/6/21 20:00,0.86,Flow
2009/6/21 20:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/5 0:00,0.46,Flow
2009/9/5 0:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/5 6:00,0.46,Flow
2009/9/5 6:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/5 12:00,0.46,Flow
2009/9/5 12:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/5 18:00,0.46,Flow
2009/9/5 18:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/6 0:00,0.46,Flow
2009/9/6 0:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/6 6:00,0.46,Flow
2009/9/6 6:00,0.018,Rainfall
2009/9/6 12:00,0.58,Flow
2009/9/6 12:00,0.046,Rainfall
2009/9/6 18:00,0.78,Flow
2009/9/6 18:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/7 0:00,0.78,Flow
2009/9/7 0:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/7 6:00,0.71,Flow
2009/9/7 6:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/7 12:00,0.63,Flow
2009/9/7 12:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/7 18:00,0.58,Flow
2009/9/7 18:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/8 0:00,0.58,Flow
2009/9/8 0:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/8 6:00,0.58,Flow
2009/9/8 6:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/8 12:00,0.58,Flow
2009/9/8 12:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/8 18:00,0.58,Flow
2009/9/8 18:00,0.009,Rainfall
2009/9/9 0:00,0.57,Flow
2009/9/9 0:00,0.009,Rainfall
2009/9/9 6:00,0.54,Flow
2009/9/9 6:00,0.009,Rainfall
2009/9/9 12:00,0.51,Flow
2009/9/9 12:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/9 18:00,0.48,Flow
2009/9/9 18:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/10 0:00,0.46,Flow
2009/9/10 0:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/10 6:00,0.46,Flow
2009/9/10 6:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/10 12:00,0.46,Flow
2009/9/10 12:00,0.309,Rainfall
2009/9/10 18:00,0.67,Flow
2009/9/10 18:00,1.436,Rainfall
2009/9/11 0:00,1.31,Flow
2009/9/11 0:00,0.556,Rainfall
2009/9/11 6:00,1.31,Flow
2009/9/11 6:00,0.192,Rainfall
2009/9/11 12:00,1.14,Flow
2009/9/11 12:00,0.009,Rainfall
2009/9/11 18:00,0.69,Flow
2009/9/11 18:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/12 0:00,0.64,Flow
2009/9/12 0:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/12 6:00,0.64,Flow
2009/9/12 6:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/12 12:00,0.64,Flow
2009/9/12 12:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/12 18:00,0.62,Flow
2009/9/12 18:00,0.082,Rainfall
2009/9/13 0:00,0.58,Flow
2009/9/13 0:00,0.122,Rainfall
2009/9/13 6:00,0.58,Flow
2009/9/13 6:00,0.746,Rainfall
2009/9/13 12:00,0.99,Flow
2009/9/13 12:00,2.393,Rainfall
2009/9/13 18:00,1.4,Flow
2009/9/13 18:00,0.043,Rainfall
2009/9/14 0:00,1.41,Flow
2009/9/14 0:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/14 6:00,1.47,Flow
2009/9/14 6:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/14 12:00,1.51,Flow
2009/9/14 12:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/14 18:00,4.18,Flow
2009/9/14 18:00,0.017,Rainfall
2009/9/15 0:00,6.73,Flow
2009/9/15 0:00,0.067,Rainfall
2009/9/15 6:00,9.84,Flow
2009/9/15 6:00,0.233,Rainfall
2009/9/15 12:00,13.66,Flow
2009/9/15 12:00,0.722,Rainfall
2009/9/15 18:00,146.6,Flow
2009/9/15 18:00,3.756,Rainfall
2009/9/16 0:00,225.23,Flow
2009/9/16 0:00,0.442,Rainfall
2009/9/16 6:00,184.6,Flow
2009/9/16 6:00,0.249,Rainfall
2009/9/16 12:00,119.94,Flow
2009/9/16 12:00,0.037,Rainfall
2009/9/16 18:00,105.44,Flow
2009/9/16 18:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/17 0:00,94.56,Flow
2009/9/17 0:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/17 6:00,69.76,Flow
2009/9/17 6:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/17 12:00,57.41,Flow
2009/9/17 12:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/17 18:00,52.57,Flow
2009/9/17 18:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/18 0:00,46.97,Flow
2009/9/18 0:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/18 6:00,39.5,Flow
2009/9/18 6:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/18 12:00,30.27,Flow
2009/9/18 12:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/18 18:00,25.86,Flow
2009/9/18 18:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/19 0:00,25.5,Flow
2009/9/19 0:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/19 6:00,25.5,Flow
2009/9/19 6:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/19 12:00,25.5,Flow
2009/9/19 12:00,0.044,Rainfall
2009/9/19 18:00,24.65,Flow
2009/9/19 18:00,0.513,Rainfall
2009/9/20 0:00,19.75,Flow
2009/9/20 0:00,2.828,Rainfall
2009/9/20 6:00,14.85,Flow
2009/9/20 6:00,4.95,Rainfall
2009/9/20 12:00,14.08,Flow
2009/9/20 12:00,3.35,Rainfall
2009/9/20 18:00,14.8,Flow
2009/9/20 18:00,1.015,Rainfall
2009/9/21 0:00,15.71,Flow
2009/9/21 0:00,0.72,Rainfall
2009/9/21 6:00,16.67,Flow
2009/9/21 6:00,0.046,Rainfall
2009/9/21 12:00,17.46,Flow
2009/9/21 12:00,0.007,Rainfall
2009/9/21 18:00,17.88,Flow
2009/9/21 18:00,0.007,Rainfall
2009/9/22 0:00,15.75,Flow
2009/9/22 0:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/22 6:00,10.98,Flow
2009/9/22 6:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/22 12:00,6.05,Flow
2009/9/22 12:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/22 18:00,3.28,Flow
2009/9/22 18:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/23 0:00,2.61,Flow
2009/9/23 0:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/23 6:00,2.07,Flow
2009/9/23 6:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/23 12:00,1.66,Flow
2009/9/23 12:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/23 18:00,1.39,Flow
2009/9/23 18:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/24 0:00,1.22,Flow
2009/9/24 0:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/24 6:00,1.2,Flow
2009/9/24 6:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/24 12:00,1.22,Flow
2009/9/24 12:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/24 18:00,1.25,Flow
2009/9/24 18:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/25 0:00,1.28,Flow
2009/9/25 0:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/25 6:00,1.3,Flow
2009/9/25 6:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/25 12:00,1.3,Flow
2009/9/25 12:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/25 18:00,1.29,Flow
2009/9/25 18:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/26 0:00,1.26,Flow
2009/9/26 0:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/26 6:00,1.16,Flow
2009/9/26 6:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/26 12:00,0.74,Flow
2009/9/26 12:00,0,Rainfall
2009/9/26 18:00,0.71,Flow
2009/9/26 18:00,0,Rainfall

Performance tips

• Sample hourly data to 3-6 hour intervals for large datasets
• Use dataZoom to focus on specific time periods
• Enable inside dataZoom for smooth pan/zoom interactions
• Consider aggregating to daily values for long-term trends (months/years)
• Implement virtual scrolling for very large datasets

FAQ

Why is the rainfall axis inverted? This creates a more intuitive visualization where rainfall appears to "fall" from above, making the cause-effect relationship clearer.

How to interpret the lag between rainfall and flow? The time difference between rainfall peaks and flow peaks indicates watershed response time, which depends on size, slope, soil conditions, and antecedent moisture.

What do the highlighted areas represent? Mark areas highlight specific events or periods of interest for focused analysis.

Should I use area fill for both series? Yes, area fill helps emphasize the magnitude of both variables and makes patterns more visible.

How to handle missing data? Display gaps rather than interpolating. Missing data can indicate equipment failure or data quality issues that should be noted.

What time resolution is best? Hourly for detailed event analysis, daily for seasonal patterns, weekly/monthly for long-term trends.

How to add precipitation thresholds? Use markLines to indicate flood warning levels or other critical thresholds on the rainfall axis.